Sunday 3 November 2024
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary time - Year B
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Living Rock
Catholics are very aware of the story of Simon professing his belief that Jesus is ‘the Christ, the son of the living God’ (Matthew 16:13-20)
Saint Matthew tells us Jesus responded by declaring that from then on that Simon was to be known as ‘Peter’ – a name which means ‘rock’ – and that the Church would be built upon this rock.
Describing Peter as the rock, Jesus commissions him to be the leader of the community of believers.
We understand that this was not only for Simon Peter and the disciples of that time. Jesus was looking to the future and building of the Church; successive leaders of the Church would share in this great vocation to be the rock.
Every Pope, as a successor to Peter, is called to be a rock foundation on which each generation of Christians is to rely and in whom we find a visible sign of our belonging together.
It is important that we keep the Pope in our prayers; that he will be strong and be the rock that God wants for our time and situation.
The idea of ‘rock’ in the Scriptures has an even richer range of meanings.
We hear of the rock struck by Moses which then produced water to satisfy the thirsting people (Numbers 20:10-13).
This rock was a sign of God who provides for needs for the people.
Jesus speaks of himself as the source of living water, to whom we can come in our thirst (John 4:14 and 7:37).
This Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm describes God as a rock of refuge, a fortress, a stronghold.
We can think of great places of strength where people can be safe from harm. We can think of rocks on which we found our buildings so that we can be secure in the knowledge that they will be safe.
It is an image of how we rely on God as our rock. In the earthquakes of life we face insecurity and uncertainty, and the Psalm reminds us that God keeps us safe.
The many things wrong with the world make it important that there is someone and something upon whom we can rely, God himself.
We also need individual ‘rocks’ with which we build our lives. God gives us these in the shape of people around us. Each is different in the way they help us put together our lives, our society, and our Church.
Family, friends and colleagues in different ways and for different needs are his gift of a rock. We recognise in parents we have a rock on which we depend. Children grow into living and loving stones around which we shape our lives.
All these reliable rocks are given to us by the Rock which is God himself. We give thanks for the gift of those who give us love and care; on whom we build our lives. We give thanks for God on whom we always rely.
This leads me to think of myself and how I am called to be a rock for others. There are people in my life who look to me to be a rock of unconditional love.
There are family and friends who turn to me when things are shaky and falling apart. Each of us is to be a rock for someone; by the words we say, by the help we give, by just being there.
God is our rock of refuge, our shield, our mighty help, and our stronghold. Each in our own way is invited by God to be like that for others.
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